29-09-2026:on Tuesday, Governor Inaugurating the “Mapping Campaign for Children with Specific Learning Disabilities (Dyslexia) and Autism” at ITITI Doon Sanskriti School, Jhajhra,
Lok Bhavan Uttarakhand-Information Wing
Press Note
Children with Special Needs Need Respect and Opportunities, Not Sympathy: Governor
Lok Bhavan Dehradun 29 September, 2026
Inaugurating the “Mapping Campaign for Children with Specific Learning Disabilities (Dyslexia) and Autism” at ITITI Doon Sanskriti School, Jhajhra, on Tuesday, Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd.) said that children with special needs require not sympathy, but respect, support and opportunities to progress according to their abilities.
The Governor said that a child’s difficulty must not be viewed as a limitation, but understood as a specific need requiring appropriate support. He emphasised, “Do not make a child’s difficulty their identity; make their ability their identity.” He called for building an inclusive, sensitive and opportunity-rich Uttarakhand where every child gets the support needed to realise their potential.
The Governor said that the objective of the mapping campaign should be to ensure the timely identification of every child, followed by appropriate counselling, expert intervention and access to necessary resources. He noted that the 21st century is the century of technology and said that technology can be effectively leveraged to provide children with disabilities greater assistance and a wider range of opportunities.
He emphasised that a strong support system for children with special needs can be developed only through coordinated efforts among families, schools, experts and the administration. He stressed the need to ensure timely access to specialised services for children living in mountainous and remote areas of the state as well.
The Governor appreciated the efforts of former Member of Parliament Shri Tarun Vijay, who has been working for nearly 25 years to provide education and opportunities to tribal children in the Himalayan and northern regions of the country. He said that establishing schools for such children is a significant contribution towards service, compassion and nation-building.
Education Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat said that 200 teachers have been appointed in schools across the state for children with disabilities. Describing this as an important step towards inclusive education, he said that teachers can identify the abilities of children and provide a new direction to their growth and development. He also noted that several significant improvements in the education sector have been undertaken under the guidance of the Governor.
Former Member of Parliament and President of the Dyslexia Society Uttarakhand, Shri Tarun Vijay, said that there is a need for comprehensive efforts across the state in the areas of identification, education, treatment and rehabilitation of children with disabilities. He expressed his commitment to taking the campaign to every child in the state who requires support.
During the programme, Dr. Surendra Dhalwal, Senior Expert at NIEPVD, shared valuable insights on the identification, education and support of children with special needs. Ms. Shivani Kotnala expressed gratitude to all the guests, experts, teachers, parents and supporters. Teachers and students from various schools were also present on the occasion.
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